The recently renovated 18 NW Oregon Avenue building in downtown Bend features a prominent solar array, along with other energy-saving upgrades, according to Seth Anderson, Ambient Architecture principal architect. (Rob Kerr / The Bulletin) - Bulletin

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The recently renovated 18 NW Oregon Avenue building in downtown Bend features a prominent solar array, along with other energy-saving upgrades, according to Seth Anderson, Ambient Architecture principal architect. (Rob Kerr / The Bulletin)1906479,1906492,1906506,

The recently renovated 18 NW Oregon Avenue building in downtown Bend features a prominent solar array, along with other energy-saving upgrades, according to Seth Anderson, Ambient Architecture principal architect. (Rob Kerr / The Bulletin) - Bulletin

true

The recently renovated 18 NW Oregon Avenue building in downtown Bend features a prominent solar array, along with other energy-saving upgrades, according to Seth Anderson, Ambient Architecture principal architect. (Rob Kerr / The Bulletin)1906479,1906492,1906506,

Solar energy advocates make a push in Bend

Call for polices to promote solar and make Oregon a national leader

Photos by Rob Kerr • The Bulletin

Jan. 8, 2014 at 06:29AM

Using the recently remodeled 18 N.W. Oregon Ave. building in downtown Bend as their stage, solar energy advocates gathered Tuesday to push for policies to help Oregon regain its ranking among the nation’s top states for the adoption of solar energy. Oregon ranked 13th in the report “Lighting the way: What we can learn from America’s top 12 solar states,” released in July by Environment America. The top 12 states had higher percentages of installed solar per capita in 2012 than Oregon. Advocates say government policies that promote solar can push the state back among the top.